verb

solicitar

apply · request · apply for

Pedir algo de manera formal o educada a una persona o institución.

Definition & meaning

The verb solicitar is used to express the act of asking for something formally, requesting assistance, or applying for a specific position or service. It has two main nuances:

To request or ask for something: To formally ask for an object, a service, or an action to be performed (e.g., requesting a loan or a document).
To apply for: To submit a formal application for a job, a scholarship, or an admission to an institution.
To court or woo: In a more formal or dated literary context, it can refer to the act of courting someone or trying to win their affection.

Grammar & Word origin

Grammar: Solicitar is a regular verb ending in -ar. It is a transitive verb, meaning it requires a direct object to complete its meaning (e.g., Solicitar un permiso - To request a permit).

Word origin: The word originates from the Latin term sollicitare, which is composed of sollicitus (meaning anxious, concerned, or entirely stirred up) and the suffix -are. Historically, it implied a state of being unsettled or moved, which evolved into the act of moving someone to grant a request or to apply one's own efforts toward a goal.